Saturday's letters

Published: Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 3:14 p.m.

Thanks for cameras

I am writing today because I believe the No. 1 function of government is public safety. I'm proud that I live in a community where our political leaders have shown the resolve to implement a program that some would say is politically unpopular, installing red-light cameras.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website reports that the rate of fatal red-light running crashes in cities around the country with red-light cameras is down 24 percent, compared with those without cameras.

I am a business professional and mother of a 7-year-old daughter. Working mothers often have to work together to get our children to school, after-school events and social activities.

While I trust everyone who drives my daughter, it makes me feel a lot safer knowing that I live in a community where people hit the brakes on yellow, rather than the gas to go through a red light to save a few seconds, endangering the lives of others on the road.

I've heard some complain about red-light cameras. I say if cameras make my family safer and help enforce laws that are on the books, we should keep them and thank those politicians who have the political will to keep our community safe.

Denise Gagne

Sarasota

Give blood twice a year

Here's an amazing statistic: If every blood donor would donate at least twice a year, there would never be a blood shortage.

And, believe it or not, only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate.

So, if you're not a donor, see if you're eligible, and if you are, give at least twice a year and save a life -- many lives!

Carl Garshelis

Lakewood Ranch

Finest local opera ever

My husband and I were dismayed by the number of empty seats at the Sarasota Opera House for the opening night of Carlisle Floyd's "Of Mice and Men" last Saturday night. Those who had tickets, and did not attend or give their tickets to others, whether because of schedule conflicts or the fear that an American classic would be dissonant and tedious, missed a unique and unforgettable experience.

In our 13 years of attending performances at Sarasota Opera, we have never seen anything as moving, powerful and emotionally devastating as the performance Saturday night. It was the finest piece of musical theater the company has presented since we first became subscribers and supporters.

It was a tribute to the masterful presentation of this modern classic that the audience's response to the first curtain call by "George" and "Lennie" was a thunderous roar of appreciation, followed by nearly equivalent approbation when the other singers took their bows. And when Carlisle Floyd, the composer of this iconic work that premiered in 1970, appeared on stage for a bow, there was no question that we who witnessed the performance were in the presence of genius.

If any readers of this paper have hesitated to attend "Of Mice and Men" for whatever reason, I urge them to set aside their preconceptions and take the opportunity to experience something remarkable. They will find themselves immersed in one of the great American stories of all time, superbly presented by Sarasota Opera.

Laurie Smith

Sarasota

Cooperate on homeless

After reading a letter writer's March 7 response to Tom Lyons' column "20 visitors, arriving in the wee hours," I pose a question: How can providing shelter to those without a home and a warm bed be considered mistreatment?

The letter writer appears to have missed the entire point of Mr. Lyons' article, which addressed the lack of communication between the Sarasota Police Department and the Salvation Army.

It's certainly understandable that the Salvation Army has strict rules regulating the time the homeless can arrive and the numbers it can effectively serve each night. It's imperative that the Police Department abide by those rules and inexcusable if the department isn't aware of Salvation Army policy.

The only mistreatment here was that the Salvation Army was surprised by the unannounced arrival of these visitors at 2 a.m. However, acting with the mercy that the Salvation Army has shown since 1865, Bryan Pope opened the center's doors and took in these 20 homeless individuals for the night.

I can only hope the Police Department and the Salvation Army can work together in aiding the homeless within the community.

• As an educator, students would ask me what I thought about homosexuality. My response: "When I understand heterosexuality and the exuberant varieties of sexuality in the plant and animal kingdoms, then I will criticize homosexuality."

• If God is the creator, and by definition all-loving, omnipotent and omniscient, how can you refuse to recognize homosexuals as his loving creations?

• The armed forces are certainly not democratic. Yet, they are a model of acceptance with respect to homosexuals. Also, recall all the dire pronouncements prior to the cancellation of "don't ask, don't tell." What serious problems have followed?

• Constitutionally, are not all American citizens equal before the law? If you answer "Yes," how do you exclude homosexual citizens?

Finally, may I suggest we let all people (including homosexuals) just be, until they infringe upon us?

<p>Thanks for cameras</p><p>I am writing today because I believe the No. 1 function of government is public safety. I'm proud that I live in a community where our political leaders have shown the resolve to implement a program that some would say is politically unpopular, installing red-light cameras.</p><p>The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website reports that the rate of fatal red-light running crashes in cities around the country with red-light cameras is down 24 percent, compared with those without cameras.</p><p>I am a business professional and mother of a 7-year-old daughter. Working mothers often have to work together to get our children to school, after-school events and social activities.</p><p>While I trust everyone who drives my daughter, it makes me feel a lot safer knowing that I live in a community where people hit the brakes on yellow, rather than the gas to go through a red light to save a few seconds, endangering the lives of others on the road.</p><p>I've heard some complain about red-light cameras. I say if cameras make my family safer and help enforce laws that are on the books, we should keep them and thank those politicians who have the political will to keep our community safe.</p><p>Denise Gagne</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Give blood twice a year</p><p>Here's an amazing statistic: If every blood donor would donate at least twice a year, there would never be a blood shortage.</p><p>And, believe it or not, only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate.</p><p>So, if you're not a donor, see if you're eligible, and if you are, give at least twice a year and save a life -- many lives!</p><p>Carl Garshelis</p><p>Lakewood Ranch</p><p>Finest local opera ever</p><p>My husband and I were dismayed by the number of empty seats at the Sarasota Opera House for the opening night of Carlisle Floyd's "Of Mice and Men" last Saturday night. Those who had tickets, and did not attend or give their tickets to others, whether because of schedule conflicts or the fear that an American classic would be dissonant and tedious, missed a unique and unforgettable experience.</p><p>In our 13 years of attending performances at Sarasota Opera, we have never seen anything as moving, powerful and emotionally devastating as the performance Saturday night. It was the finest piece of musical theater the company has presented since we first became subscribers and supporters.</p><p>It was a tribute to the masterful presentation of this modern classic that the audience's response to the first curtain call by "George" and "Lennie" was a thunderous roar of appreciation, followed by nearly equivalent approbation when the other singers took their bows. And when Carlisle Floyd, the composer of this iconic work that premiered in 1970, appeared on stage for a bow, there was no question that we who witnessed the performance were in the presence of genius.</p><p>If any readers of this paper have hesitated to attend "Of Mice and Men" for whatever reason, I urge them to set aside their preconceptions and take the opportunity to experience something remarkable. They will find themselves immersed in one of the great American stories of all time, superbly presented by Sarasota Opera.</p><p>Laurie Smith</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Cooperate on homeless</p><p>After reading a letter writer's March 7 response to Tom Lyons' column "20 visitors, arriving in the wee hours," I pose a question: How can providing shelter to those without a home and a warm bed be considered mistreatment?</p><p>The letter writer appears to have missed the entire point of Mr. Lyons' article, which addressed the lack of communication between the Sarasota Police Department and the Salvation Army.</p><p>It's certainly understandable that the Salvation Army has strict rules regulating the time the homeless can arrive and the numbers it can effectively serve each night. It's imperative that the Police Department abide by those rules and inexcusable if the department isn't aware of Salvation Army policy.</p><p>The only mistreatment here was that the Salvation Army was surprised by the unannounced arrival of these visitors at 2 a.m. However, acting with the mercy that the Salvation Army has shown since 1865, Bryan Pope opened the center's doors and took in these 20 homeless individuals for the night.</p><p>I can only hope the Police Department and the Salvation Army can work together in aiding the homeless within the community.</p><p>Joan Nock</p><p>Pittsburgh</p><p>Free to be homosexual</p><p>Frank Bruni's column about the pain that homosexuals experience ("Divining God's wishes," March 7) saddened me also.</p><p>Here are some comments and questions regarding homosexuality:</p><p>• As an educator, students would ask me what I thought about homosexuality. My response: "When I understand heterosexuality and the exuberant varieties of sexuality in the plant and animal kingdoms, then I will criticize homosexuality."</p><p>• If God is the creator, and by definition all-loving, omnipotent and omniscient, how can you refuse to recognize homosexuals as his loving creations?</p><p>• The armed forces are certainly not democratic. Yet, they are a model of acceptance with respect to homosexuals. Also, recall all the dire pronouncements prior to the cancellation of "don't ask, don't tell." What serious problems have followed?</p><p>• Constitutionally, are not all American citizens equal before the law? If you answer "Yes," how do you exclude homosexual citizens?</p><p>Finally, may I suggest we let all people (including homosexuals) just be, until they infringe upon us?</p><p>Edward J. Dwyer</p><p>Longboat Key</p>